Leotards for Competition have Evolved

Every sports competition involves a unique set of gear and equipment, and gymnastic competitions are no different. While a football player needs helmets, and an MMA fighter requires MMA shorts, a competing gymnast requires a leotard costume, that is showy and properly designed to lend comfort to the wearer.

Leotards for gymnastic competitions

By rule of thumb, gymnastic leotards for competitions do differ from ordinary ones worn during practice or at the gym. Difference generally lies in terms of color, form, length and presence of striking embellishments like spangles, crystals and sequins. Also, many competitions outline few guidelines that participants must follow as regards to their costumes. For example, it is preferable to wear long-sleeved leotards rather than sleeveless ones for gymnastic competitions. The most important thing for a rhythmic gymnastic costume is that it should fit well, be decorative, comfortable and not come in the way of performance.

Additional accessories

Rhythmic gymnastics costumes for competitions are often teamed up with adequate gymnastics underwear of skin color. Such special underwear are known as under leotards. Although many find it unnecessary, all national level gymnast competitions have stringent rules that require participants to cover up as much as flesh as possible. Under leotards are not visible as they are worn underneath the gymnast leotard, but they sure lend immense confidence to the wearer. Under leotards should be bought without fail, if mesh forms the maximum part of the leotard, especially for young girls and teenagers. Special tops are available for adult competing gymnasts, to hide extra flab and lend a more streamline shape to the body. Skin-tight stockings are also worn to give the impression of toned legs and increased comfort.

Customized rhythmic gymnastic costumes

Most often, competing gymnasts get their costumes tailor-made from a local or online retailer. Customized rhythmic leotards have the advantage of being properly designed according to the wearer's preferences and reflecting a particular theme to the fullest. This no doubt heightens the performance value and makes it more appealing to the judges. Customized leotards are bright, colorful, and fit well. Yet again, they are designed in accordance with certain rules of the gymnast competition. For example, spaghetti straps are a no-no, and the bottom cut has to go till below the pelvis.

Shoes for gymnastic competitions

Rhythmic gymnasts usually perform in demi-slippers during competitions. Geksha demi-slippers are popularly teamed up with complex leotards. Participants are generally advised to put on flip-flops or knitted booties right before performance, so that the feet remain warm and the gymnastic shoes can stay squeaky clean before the competition.

Leotards designed specifically for gymnastic competitions are fashioned in a way to showcase the form and beauty of the wearer's athletic body. Many a time rhythmic gymnastics costumes for competition are utilized to underscore the performance, highlight the origin of the team's country and culture, or grab the attention of viewers and the judges. It is advisable to choose those fabrics as rhythmic costumes, that aren't overwhelmingly decked up with rhinestones and glittery stuff, as these tend to pose obstructions to agility while performing and understate the performance value to an extent.